Robert Downey Jr. shared the first group photo of the Avengers: Doomsday cast via Instagram. Capturing a mix of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) veterans and newcomers during a screening of Thunderbolts*.
The image, taken at an Atlanta studio, featured Downey (Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi).
Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau/Gambit), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing), and Winston Duke (M’Baku). Downey captioned the post, “Just wow!!! Dinner and a show with the Old Avengers. So cool, fresh, and deep. Big congrats to the New Avengers (and Bob). #thunderbolts,” subtly referencing a Thunderbolts* post-credits spoiler.
Thunderbolts*, released April 22, 2025, stars Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, and Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds/Sentry, among others.
The film has garnered critical acclaim, with Variety calling it “Marvel’s boldest project since Endgame” for its gritty tone and ensemble chemistry. Its success sets the stage for Avengers: Doomsday, which began filming April 28, 2025. Under directors Joe and Anthony Russo, as announced by @ENTERTAINMENTij on X.
Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on May 1, 2026, is the fifth Avengers film and the second in Phase Six of the MCU. The cast blends returning heroes like Hemsworth, Mackie, Rudd, Liu. And Duke with fresh faces from The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Kirby, Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm) and Deadpool & Wolverine (Tatum).
Notably, Downey returns not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, a casting revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Additional confirmed actors include Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes). And X-Men veterans like Ian McKellen (Magneto) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast), integrating Fox’s mutant roster post-Disney acquisition.
The inclusion of Kirby and Moss-Bachrach highlights the MCU’s integration of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, premiering July 25, 2025. Its cast, also featuring Pascal and Quinn, will play a pivotal role in Doomsday, bridging Marvel’s first family with the Avengers. A trailer, released in March 2025, showcased their 1960s-inspired origin, generating buzz for its retro aesthetic and emotional depth.
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The photo, shared across cast members’ social accounts, sparked excitement on X, with @Shadow_Kissed1 calling it a “dream lineup.” Fans praised the mix of legacy and new heroes. Though some expressed skepticism about Downey’s villain role, citing his iconic Iron Man legacy.
Avengers: Doomsday promises a multiversal epic, weaving Thunderbolts*, Fantastic Four, and X-Men threads into a clash against Doctor Doom. A sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, is slated for May 7, 2027.
